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The Commentary of David Kimhi on the Fif

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Medieval Jewish scholar David Kimhi did far more than simply interpret Scripture - he wielded his influential commentary on Psalms 107-150 as a theological defense against Christian claims while offering his 12th-century Jewish audience guidance on everything from astronomy to contemporary social issues. A critical examination of five manuscripts and three early printed editions (Bologna 1477, Naples 1487, Venice 1517) from the Jewish Theological Seminary Library reveals both the richness of Kimhi's original work and its subsequent corruption through centuries of transmission. Using philological analysis, this research uncovers how copyists frequently altered grammatical forms, combined biblical verses erroneously, and introduced transcription errors as they rushed to meet popular demand for Kimhi's accessible interpretative style. The commentary systematically challenges Christian theological positions, particularly regarding Psalm 110's christological interpretation, the permanence of Torah commandments, and Catholic absolution practices. Patterns of censorship across different sources demonstrate varying degrees of ecclesiastical intervention, with some manuscripts preserving anti-Christian polemics while others show systematic removal of such passages. By establishing relationships between manuscript families and tracing textual transmission, this critical edition illuminates both medieval Jewish biblical exegesis and the complex interplay between religious scholarship and inter-faith controversy.

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  • Publication Information

    Published 1949-1950

    ISBN

  • Publication Credits

    Jacob Bosniak